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MLS Portland Timbers

Timbers Weekly Update

March 22, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Portland Timbers News Release


Join the official viewing party Saturday at Dublin Pub Timbers announce $40,000 in community grants for local nonprofits Timbers to face Valencia CF, one of Spain's top clubs, in friendly on May 23 "˜Timbers In 30' airs Friday on KPTV Fox 12 Gleeson, New Zealand U-23 National Team seek Olympic berth Reserve League kicks off on Tuesday, March 27, for Timbers Timbers coach John Spencer calls Darlington Nagbe's goal against FC Dallas Jewsbury, Chara send message to youth at César E. Chávez Leadership Conference Tune in to "Talk Timbers" on 750 AM The Game

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Timbers hit the road for the second straight week, traveling to face the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., at 1 p.m. (Pacific).

Saturday's match at the Revolution will be televised live on ROOT SPORTS, with radio broadcasts on 750 AM The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940 AM.

The Timbers (1-0-1, 4pts) earned a point with another come-from-behind performance last Saturday against FC Dallas. Second-year midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe entered the match as a halftime substitute and quickly provided the equalizing goal in the 51st minute. Following a failed clearance by FC Dallas goalkeeper Kevin Hartman, the ball deflected off an FC Dallas defender, creating a 50-50 ball at the edge of the penalty area. Nagbe beat a defender to the ball and slotted a shot past Hartman, who was closing in on him. In addition, Timbers defender Hanyer Mosquera, who made his debut against FC Dallas, earned a place on the MLS Team of the Week honorable mention list.

The Timbers and New England (0-2-0, 0pts) face each other for the one, and only, time during the regular season on Saturday in the home opener for the Revolution. Preceding Saturday's match, the Women's national teams of Brazil and Canada are set to play an international friendly at Gillette Stadium as part of a home-opening doubleheader.

Last season, the Timbers took four out of a possible six points from the Revolution. Portland earned its first road point as an MLS club with a 1-1 draw on April 2, 2011 at Gillette Stadium. Midfielder Jack Jewsbury provided the game-tying goal for the Timbers in the 38th minute. In front of a sold-out crowd at JELD-WEN Field on Sept. 16, 2011, the Timbers defeated New England, 3-0, with Diego Chara and Darlington Nagbe among the goal scorers.

New England, playing with 10 men for 76 minutes, lost 3-0 on the road at Sporting Kansas City last weekend. The Revolution, behind new head coach Jay Heaps and a large cast of new additions are still searching for their first win of the 2012 season.

Join the Timbers official viewing party Saturday at Dublin Pub

Fans are invited to attend the Timbers official viewing parties for road matches at local Timbers pub partners throughout the season. On Saturday, Dublin Pub will host the second viewing party of the 2012 season at 1 p.m. (PT), presented by ROOT SPORTS.

Offering happy hour specials throughout the match, Dublin Pub is also giving those in attendance the chance to win Timbers-related prizes, including a team-signed, retro-inspired third jersey.

Dublin Pub is located at 6821 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway in Portland and is one of several local pubs and restaurants featured as part of the club's pub partner program in 2012. Click here to see where the next viewing parties will take place.

Timbers announce $40,000 in community grants for nine local nonprofit organizations

The Portland Timbers have awarded $40,000 in grants to nine youth-focused nonprofit organizations in the greater-Portland area through the Portland Timbers Community Fund (PTCF).The nine Spring grant recipients were selected by the Portland Timbers Community Fund Advisory Board.

Supported by founding partners JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, Alaska Airlines, adidas, PGE and Burgerville, the PTCF presented grants to Adelante Mujeres, Camp Fire Columbia, The Community Cycling Center, The Council for Responsible Sport, Girls Inc., Miracle Theatre Group, Mittleman Jewish Community Center, Open Meadow Alternative School and Playworks.

The PTCF has set an aggressive goal of donating $120,000 in grants to local nonprofits in 2012, which is $20,000 more than was awarded in 2011. The PTCF offers three rounds of grants over the course of the year. Letters of Interest (LOI) for the PTCF's Summer grant cycle are due Monday, April 23. For grant applications and guidelines, click here.

Timbers welcome Valencia CF, one of Spain's top clubs, for exhibition on May 23

The Portland Timbers announced this week that the club will play host to accomplished Spanish club Valencia CF in an international exhibition Wednesday, May 23, at JELD-WEN Field; kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific).

Tickets for the friendly against the top-flight Spanish side are included in full-season ticket packages as Exhibition B. Members of the Timbers' Season Ticket Waiting List will have access to an exclusive pre-sale period to purchase tickets, starting Wednesday, March 28, at 10 a.m.

Single-game tickets, starting at $25, go on sale to the public Friday, March 30, at 10 a.m. through the JELD-WEN Field box office, area Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.

Valencia, from Spain's La Liga, is one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football, having won six La Liga championships, and is a seven-time winner Spain's annual domestic cup competition. In the past 10 seasons, Valencia has won two league titles (2001-02, 2003-04) and claimed the Copa del Rey in 2008.

Led by head coach Unai Emery, who has managed the team since 2008, Valencia currently ranks third in the La Liga table behind FC Barcelona and first-place Real Madrid. Defender Jordi Alba and forward Roberto Soldado both recently featured for Spain's national team, with Soldado scoring three goals in a 5-0 win over Venezuela on Feb. 29.

"˜Timbers In 30' airs Friday on KPTV Fox 12

The Timbers weekly television show, "Timbers In 30," features exclusive, inside access to the club and airs each Friday at 6:30 p.m. on KPTV Fox 12. Moved to a new, Friday night time slot this season, "Timbers In 30" will focus on inside access to the inner-workings and personalities of the club and provide detailed team and game analysis with in-studio appearances from Timbers players and coaches each week.

Previously aired shows and "Timbers In 30" features can be found at www.portlandtimbers.com.

Gleeson, New Zealand U-23s seek Olympic berth in qualifying tournament

Goalkeeper Jake Gleeson was recently called up by the New Zealand U-23 National Team for the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Olympic qualifying tournament in Taupo, New Zealand.

Gleeson, 21, started and earned a shutout in the New Zealand U-23's opening match of the tournament, a 1-0 win over Papua New Guinea on March 16. The U-23 "Oly Whites" scored the game-winning goal while playing with just 10 men following a red-card ejection midway through the second half.

The New Zealand U-23s, competing in Group B of the OFC Olympic qualifying tournament, defeated Tonga 10-0 on Wednesday, clinching a spot in the tournament's semifinals. Gleeson did not play against Tonga. New Zealand faces Vanuatu on Friday in the semifinals. The tournament final will be held Sunday, March 25, with the winner earning the OFC's only berth to the 2012 London Olympics. All matches in the OFC Olympic qualifying tournament will be held at Owen Delany Park in Taupo.

Timbers MLS Reserve League schedule kicks off at San Jose on Tuesday

The Timbers begin their MLS Reserve League schedule on Tuesday, March 27, at 11 a.m. with a road game against the San Jose Reserves.

The Timbers Reserves will play a 10-match season against five regional opponents this season.

In 2012, the Timbers Reserves will face the reserve sides of Western Conference rivals Chivas USA, LA Galaxy, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC and Vancouver Whitecaps FC twice - once at home and once away - during the Reserve League season.

Five-game season tickets are available by calling the Timbers ticket office at (503) 553-5555 or email ticketsales@portlandtimbers.com.

Groups of 15 or more can purchase group tickets starting at $7 each through the Timbers ticket office. Corporate hospitality, picnic areas and on-field opportunities are also available for reserve team matches. Call the Timbers ticket office for details at (503) 553-5555 or email ticketsales@portlandtimbers.com.

In 2011, the Timbers Reserves finished with a 6-2-2 overall record.

Timbers head coach John Spencer calls last Saturday's game-tying goal

Wearing the headset for a 51st minute interview with ROOT SPORTS during last Saturday's 1-1 draw with FC Dallas, head coach John Spencer couldn't have timed his response to a question about halftime substitute Darlington Nagbe any better.

Click here to watch Spencer call Nagbe's game-tying goal in the 51st minute.

Jewsbury, Chara send message to Hispanic youth at César E. Chávez Leadership Conference

On March 9, hundreds of Hispanic high school students, from all over Northwestern Oregon, trekked to Western Oregon University's campus for the 22nd Annual César E. Chávez Leadership Conference (CECLC), all with the purpose of getting connected.

The Timbers partnered with the conference to provide a scholarship, a special video message from captain Jack Jewsbury and Diego Chara, and bilingual booklets on health, nutrition and soccer.

The CECLC is the largest high school student college fair specifically designed for Latino students in Oregon. The students are allowed to attend the college/university fair, leadership workshops and listen to distinguished keynote speakers.

Tune in to "˜Talk Timbers,' presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, on 750 AM The Game

The Timbers' weekly radio talk show, "Talk Timbers," presented by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors, airs each week on 750 AM The Game. Hosted by John Strong, "Talk Timbers" will feature interviews with club officials, coaches, players and special guests. The show will provide team news and the latest information from around MLS as the 2012 season approaches.

The next three Talk Timbers shows are: Wed., March 28 at 6 p.m.; Thurs., April 5 at 6 p.m.; Thurs., April 12 at 6 p.m.

Fans can tune in to the show live on 750 AM The Game or listen online at www.750thegame.com.

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